My reds are losing their color

[Pankakes]

My 4 6inch RBP's over the last month have lost their cool red bellies. All of their red have virtually disappeared. I'm feeding them pellets and they even are eating flake food. What do you think is going on? Also, what do you think will bring out their color the best?

 

[massabsamurai]

vary the diet. Start on shrimp, tilapia, krill and whatever your feeding now.

 

[jp80911]

rbps will start to lose their red as they age, but like massabsamurai said, try to get them on shrimp, it would help with the color.
what pellets are they on?

 

[LBathory]

try giving them freeze dried krill. that brought out great color in my piraya when I had him. also, if you haven't already, try adding some tall plants into the tank, the added cover might cause them to feel more secure and show some brighter colors.

 

[Diogenes]

another good color food is meal worms which have been fed a steady diet of carrots. They're rich in beta carotene (aka vitamin A) which promotes pigmentation.

 

[dudey]

what size tank?

 

[mtuttle02]

Have you checked your water parameters?

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

My 4 6inch RBP's over the last month have lost their cool red bellies. All of their red have virtually disappeared. I'm feeding them pellets and they even are eating flake food. What do you think is going on? Also, what do you think will bring out their color the best?

Generally Reds start losing their color at around 6''. Expect them from this point on to turn a decidedly black color. In my experience, shrimp and plankton will induce the most color. Irregardless at 6'' on, they'll turn darker.

 

[Pankakes]

what about silversides? any good?

 

[Amazon_Addict]

Is it possible that they're attempting to spawn. Don't they get darker when they are in their breeding stage?